Dhaka, April 16 -- An official of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has testified before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1, revealing that the nationwide internet shutdown during the July Uprising was executed following direct orders from former ICT state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak.

The official, whose identity was withheld for security reasons, provided a detailed account of how a WhatsApp group was used to bypass formal protocols and silence the country's digital connectivity.

The testimony was recorded as part of a crimes against humanity case filed against Palak and Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son and ICT affairs advisor to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

The witness told the tribunal, chaired by...